The maid’s maid was one of the few ways for the untitled nobles to become officials.
The imperial nobles were proud to have a servant or maid from their family.
The chief maid or maid’s maid were in fact high-ranking officials of the empire and could have great power not only in the imperial court but also anywhere in the empire. Often, they would gain this position and establish their family.
“Have you come to get your clothes tailored again today?”
“No, I came to choose some accessories that would go with the clothes I had tailored last time.”
Ines had already been visiting the most popular clothing store in the empire for a week. The clothing store, which had several halls, had its floors covered in red silk. At first glance, the luxurious furniture and props greatly stimulated the vanity of those who visited. This place, which led the imperial fashion, was a place that took pride in serving the imperial maids.
“Then you came very well.”
If there was a sinner in the family, there was no way she could be a maid. Ines had to work as a maid for three years because of her own sin. Few people in the system knew about Ines’s actions or her family, but the incident in Landhill was something that could be easily found out if you paid a little attention.
So Ines began to look for a way to become a maid of the royal family.
The word maid itself was a name given to a child, but many women remained as maids even after becoming adults because there were no maid positions available.
Furthermore, court maids did not have the strict qualifications that maids had. An imperial maid could stay in the palace, and if she had made a decent contribution and gained the trust of the royal family, even someone who had committed a crime could become a maid.
“Do you have any good items?”
The owner of the clothing store was very happy to see Ines, who had been visiting for several days and spending a lot of money. He also introduced her to everyone who visited the store.
The daughter of a wealthy Viscount from Landhill was a title that suited her well with the noble women of the system.
“Of course. If you come this way, many beautiful jewels are exactly the same color as Young Lady’s eyes.”
As she followed the owner who was excited about selling jewels, she walked to another hall. The sound of the dressing room door opening drew people’s attention in that direction.
Naturally, Ines followed the crowd and looked at them for a moment. And at that moment, she realized that the atmosphere in the dressing room had strangely changed. The people who had been chatting and looking at the items suddenly became silent. And they secretly exchanged glances with each other.
So Ines turned her eyes toward the door again. It was for the obvious reason that she wanted to see the person who had changed the atmosphere.
“Casey?”
Casey was a prisoner who had shared a room with Ines in Romfield along with Lena and Charlotte.
“Oh, do you know her?”
"No, just the name...”
As she answered, still looking at Casey, the owner of the dressing room approached Ines as if he was talking to her in secret. However, he was not very careful.
“She was the Crown Princess’s closest maid, you know?”
The former Crown Prince he was talking about was the Empress's first son. Ines's eyes widened in surprise. Why on earth was Casey, the Crown Princess's closest maid, coming to Romfield?
If she had committed a crime, she should have been sent to the prison in the capital, not the prison in Landhill. Then the dress shop owner added,
"Well, it's only been a short time since you came from Landhill, so, naturally, you don't know exactly who that person is. And now you don't need to know any more. She's out of luck."
"Out of luck... "
"The Crown Prince passed away and the Crown Princess was practically kicked out of the palace, so you're out of luck."
Ines carefully examined Casey standing in front of the door. She must have known that others were gossiping about her, but her upright body didn't flinch at all.
The Casey that Ines saw at Romfield was always a woman who sat curled up in the corner. She came to prison when Ines was 24 years old. Then it was next year that she would go to Romfield.
“She's been walking around with such a proud face that she's been more imposing than Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess, who only lives in the palace.”
At that moment, a woman called the dresser from a little distance away.
“Oh, I’m talking to this person...”
“Don’t worry about me and go about your business. I’ll just look at some fabrics here.”
The dresser thanked her for her understanding and hurried to another place. Ines approached Casey right away.
“Hello.”
She bowed her head slightly in response to the polite greeting.
“I’m Ines Swenden, daughter of the Viscount Swenden.”
“Swenden?”
“Oh, you’ve never heard of me before. I’m from Landhill.”
Casey tilted her head and looked at Ines for a moment.
“I am the Viscountess of Hampshire. And I think I have heard of the Swenden family.”
Hampshire? Ines’s eyes were filled with doubt. At that time, Casey’s name was not Casey Hampshire.
Her name was Casey Orlando.
“I heard you were a temple maid...?”
While Ines thought about the past for a moment, she asked directly.
“Oh, you knew me. I finished my term about half a year ago.”
Casey nodded and continued to walk toward the fabrics.
“You must be wondering how I know Young Lady. My parents’ house is in Landhill.”
“Orlando...”
“That’s right. The Viscount Orlando family.”
At that, Casey snickered.
“My family recently proposed to Young Lady’s family. But Young Lady is in the capital.”
“I didn’t know your family sent the proposal. As you can see, I came to the capital.”
She glanced at Ines for a moment.
“But what brings you to the capital? I heard that your family has become very wealthy because of the gold mine.”
As Casey approached the crowd, they slowly moved away. They spoke in a low voice as if they were proud, but no one dared insult her, perhaps because she was still in the palace.
“Have you come to spend money?”
“Nothing like that... Lady Hampshire. If you have time, would you like to have a cup of tea with me?”
Casey paused for a moment while scanning the fabric. Then, her eyes turned to Ines, and there was an inexplicable weariness in them.
“I don’t feel like it.”
“I have something to tell you.”
“I don’t know why, but you’ve chosen the wrong person.”
“What do you mean...?”
“I’m saying that there’s nothing good about hanging out with me. I’m about to leave the palace. If you want to settle down in the capital, choose someone better.”
After saying that, she thought Ines would move away on her own and started picking out fabrics again. But Ines didn’t give up. She had been coming to the dressing room every day, but there was no particular way. But the moment she saw Casey, Ines was convinced that she had to catch her.
“Lady Hampshire, I’m the same.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not the kind of person you’d want to hang out with, either. You know that.”
“...”
“And the capital isn’t where I want to settle down. Give me some time. It won’t take long.”
She sighed.
“Fine. But it’s difficult here.”
When Ines nodded without hesitation, Casey shook her head.
“I don’t want to think about what people will say when they see us hanging out together, so come out of here ten minutes after I leave and come to the carriage house at the intersection.”
“Yes.”
Ines answered softly and immediately walked away from her. Then she asked the owner of the dressing room to choose a suitable piece of jewelry and waited for ten minutes to pass.
Ines dismissed the hotel staff who had come to the dressing room with her and headed to the carriage house alone.
Soon the two sat facing each other in the carriage.
“I’ll tell you again, I told you clearly. I won’t be of much help to you.”
In the slightly dark room, the woman’s hair, which had looked dark brown, was a much richer shade. She was a beautiful woman with a sharp and distinct impression. The imperial maids were basically beautiful. It was a feeling Ines had never felt before, since Casey always looked half-asleep in Romfield.
“It’s not too late, so you can get out of the carriage.”
The imperial nobles were proud to have a servant or maid from their family.
The chief maid or maid’s maid were in fact high-ranking officials of the empire and could have great power not only in the imperial court but also anywhere in the empire. Often, they would gain this position and establish their family.
“Have you come to get your clothes tailored again today?”
“No, I came to choose some accessories that would go with the clothes I had tailored last time.”
Ines had already been visiting the most popular clothing store in the empire for a week. The clothing store, which had several halls, had its floors covered in red silk. At first glance, the luxurious furniture and props greatly stimulated the vanity of those who visited. This place, which led the imperial fashion, was a place that took pride in serving the imperial maids.
“Then you came very well.”
If there was a sinner in the family, there was no way she could be a maid. Ines had to work as a maid for three years because of her own sin. Few people in the system knew about Ines’s actions or her family, but the incident in Landhill was something that could be easily found out if you paid a little attention.
So Ines began to look for a way to become a maid of the royal family.
The word maid itself was a name given to a child, but many women remained as maids even after becoming adults because there were no maid positions available.
Furthermore, court maids did not have the strict qualifications that maids had. An imperial maid could stay in the palace, and if she had made a decent contribution and gained the trust of the royal family, even someone who had committed a crime could become a maid.
“Do you have any good items?”
The owner of the clothing store was very happy to see Ines, who had been visiting for several days and spending a lot of money. He also introduced her to everyone who visited the store.
The daughter of a wealthy Viscount from Landhill was a title that suited her well with the noble women of the system.
“Of course. If you come this way, many beautiful jewels are exactly the same color as Young Lady’s eyes.”
As she followed the owner who was excited about selling jewels, she walked to another hall. The sound of the dressing room door opening drew people’s attention in that direction.
Naturally, Ines followed the crowd and looked at them for a moment. And at that moment, she realized that the atmosphere in the dressing room had strangely changed. The people who had been chatting and looking at the items suddenly became silent. And they secretly exchanged glances with each other.
So Ines turned her eyes toward the door again. It was for the obvious reason that she wanted to see the person who had changed the atmosphere.
“Casey?”
Casey was a prisoner who had shared a room with Ines in Romfield along with Lena and Charlotte.
“Oh, do you know her?”
"No, just the name...”
As she answered, still looking at Casey, the owner of the dressing room approached Ines as if he was talking to her in secret. However, he was not very careful.
“She was the Crown Princess’s closest maid, you know?”
The former Crown Prince he was talking about was the Empress's first son. Ines's eyes widened in surprise. Why on earth was Casey, the Crown Princess's closest maid, coming to Romfield?
If she had committed a crime, she should have been sent to the prison in the capital, not the prison in Landhill. Then the dress shop owner added,
"Well, it's only been a short time since you came from Landhill, so, naturally, you don't know exactly who that person is. And now you don't need to know any more. She's out of luck."
"Out of luck... "
"The Crown Prince passed away and the Crown Princess was practically kicked out of the palace, so you're out of luck."
Ines carefully examined Casey standing in front of the door. She must have known that others were gossiping about her, but her upright body didn't flinch at all.
The Casey that Ines saw at Romfield was always a woman who sat curled up in the corner. She came to prison when Ines was 24 years old. Then it was next year that she would go to Romfield.
“She's been walking around with such a proud face that she's been more imposing than Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess, who only lives in the palace.”
At that moment, a woman called the dresser from a little distance away.
“Oh, I’m talking to this person...”
“Don’t worry about me and go about your business. I’ll just look at some fabrics here.”
The dresser thanked her for her understanding and hurried to another place. Ines approached Casey right away.
“Hello.”
She bowed her head slightly in response to the polite greeting.
“I’m Ines Swenden, daughter of the Viscount Swenden.”
“Swenden?”
“Oh, you’ve never heard of me before. I’m from Landhill.”
Casey tilted her head and looked at Ines for a moment.
“I am the Viscountess of Hampshire. And I think I have heard of the Swenden family.”
Hampshire? Ines’s eyes were filled with doubt. At that time, Casey’s name was not Casey Hampshire.
Her name was Casey Orlando.
“I heard you were a temple maid...?”
While Ines thought about the past for a moment, she asked directly.
“Oh, you knew me. I finished my term about half a year ago.”
Casey nodded and continued to walk toward the fabrics.
“You must be wondering how I know Young Lady. My parents’ house is in Landhill.”
“Orlando...”
“That’s right. The Viscount Orlando family.”
At that, Casey snickered.
“My family recently proposed to Young Lady’s family. But Young Lady is in the capital.”
“I didn’t know your family sent the proposal. As you can see, I came to the capital.”
She glanced at Ines for a moment.
“But what brings you to the capital? I heard that your family has become very wealthy because of the gold mine.”
As Casey approached the crowd, they slowly moved away. They spoke in a low voice as if they were proud, but no one dared insult her, perhaps because she was still in the palace.
“Have you come to spend money?”
“Nothing like that... Lady Hampshire. If you have time, would you like to have a cup of tea with me?”
Casey paused for a moment while scanning the fabric. Then, her eyes turned to Ines, and there was an inexplicable weariness in them.
“I don’t feel like it.”
“I have something to tell you.”
“I don’t know why, but you’ve chosen the wrong person.”
“What do you mean...?”
“I’m saying that there’s nothing good about hanging out with me. I’m about to leave the palace. If you want to settle down in the capital, choose someone better.”
After saying that, she thought Ines would move away on her own and started picking out fabrics again. But Ines didn’t give up. She had been coming to the dressing room every day, but there was no particular way. But the moment she saw Casey, Ines was convinced that she had to catch her.
“Lady Hampshire, I’m the same.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not the kind of person you’d want to hang out with, either. You know that.”
“...”
“And the capital isn’t where I want to settle down. Give me some time. It won’t take long.”
She sighed.
“Fine. But it’s difficult here.”
When Ines nodded without hesitation, Casey shook her head.
“I don’t want to think about what people will say when they see us hanging out together, so come out of here ten minutes after I leave and come to the carriage house at the intersection.”
“Yes.”
Ines answered softly and immediately walked away from her. Then she asked the owner of the dressing room to choose a suitable piece of jewelry and waited for ten minutes to pass.
***
Ines dismissed the hotel staff who had come to the dressing room with her and headed to the carriage house alone.
Soon the two sat facing each other in the carriage.
“I’ll tell you again, I told you clearly. I won’t be of much help to you.”
In the slightly dark room, the woman’s hair, which had looked dark brown, was a much richer shade. She was a beautiful woman with a sharp and distinct impression. The imperial maids were basically beautiful. It was a feeling Ines had never felt before, since Casey always looked half-asleep in Romfield.
“It’s not too late, so you can get out of the carriage.”
Unless something unexpected happens, she would soon stop being a maid.
The hierarchy of maids and servants in the palace was clear. There were servants and maids assigned to each castle where the imperial family resided.
However, a servant was attached to the male imperial family, and a maid was attached to the female imperial family.
The main job of the closest maids was to gamble together, take walks, and help with shopping. It was more correct to think of them as friends who kept them company or sometimes even as sources of information.
These maids were in a very unstable position of power because their positions were determined by the position of the imperial family.
In addition, there were maids who worked as secretaries, and they remained in that position even when the master of the castle changed.
In particular, the servants and maids assigned to the imperial palace and the Empress's palace and in charge of household affairs literally wielded enormous power. They eventually became the chief chamberlain and the chief maid, and not only managed all the palace maids but also exercised considerable political influence.
However, not all imperial maids could become ministers.
Only the closest maids, the secretary maids who managed the castle, and the maids of the Emperor’s Palace and the Empress’s Palace were allowed to start the procession.
“The Marquis Carson will soon be Emperor, and I will have to vacate the palace in a few days.”
Her meaning was clear. Therefore, she had no power to grant any request.
“So if you want to be in line with the Imperial Family, I am not worth it.”
“You wish to remain in the Imperial Family, do you?”
Casey grimaced at the sudden statement.
“I don’t think we are in a position to discuss such intimate matters.”
“I apologize if I offended you. But I just wanted to know. I didn’t mean anything else.”
The hierarchy of maids and servants in the palace was clear. There were servants and maids assigned to each castle where the imperial family resided.
However, a servant was attached to the male imperial family, and a maid was attached to the female imperial family.
The main job of the closest maids was to gamble together, take walks, and help with shopping. It was more correct to think of them as friends who kept them company or sometimes even as sources of information.
These maids were in a very unstable position of power because their positions were determined by the position of the imperial family.
In addition, there were maids who worked as secretaries, and they remained in that position even when the master of the castle changed.
In particular, the servants and maids assigned to the imperial palace and the Empress's palace and in charge of household affairs literally wielded enormous power. They eventually became the chief chamberlain and the chief maid, and not only managed all the palace maids but also exercised considerable political influence.
However, not all imperial maids could become ministers.
Only the closest maids, the secretary maids who managed the castle, and the maids of the Emperor’s Palace and the Empress’s Palace were allowed to start the procession.
“The Marquis Carson will soon be Emperor, and I will have to vacate the palace in a few days.”
Her meaning was clear. Therefore, she had no power to grant any request.
“So if you want to be in line with the Imperial Family, I am not worth it.”
“You wish to remain in the Imperial Family, do you?”
Casey grimaced at the sudden statement.
“I don’t think we are in a position to discuss such intimate matters.”
“I apologize if I offended you. But I just wanted to know. I didn’t mean anything else.”
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